Save The Date

Join us October 5-13, 2024 for the 52nd Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta powered by ExxonMobil in Albuquerque, New Mexico. More information available at www.balloonfiesta.com.

Sponsor Spotlight

ExxonMobil Announced as Title Sponsor for the 2025 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

Title Sponsorship Will Run Through 2029

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta today announced that ExxonMobil will become the event’s title sponsor starting in 2025 and continuing through 2029. The event will be named the ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

“We are proud to have a sponsor and partner in ExxonMobil. After years of working together, we are excited to collaborate with ExxonMobil to continue Balloon Fiesta’s mission to support the sport of ballooning, the City of Albuquerque, and the State of New Mexico nationally and internationally,” said Judith Nakamura, President of Balloon Fiesta Board of Directors. “This multi-year partnership will help showcase the magic of Balloon Fiesta and the wonders of New Mexico.”

“We’re thrilled to expand our sponsorship for an event that means so much to the Albuquerque community, the state and to our employees,” said Bart Cahir, Senior Vice President ExxonMobil Upstream Unconventional. “Balloon Fiesta is a unique economic driver that proudly showcases New Mexico’s rich cultural heritage, and we are proud of the role ExxonMobil plays in bringing the event to life.”

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta generates more than $200 million for New Mexico’s economy and brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Land of Enchantment each year. The 52^nd event is scheduled to launch from Balloon Fiesta Park, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 5-13, 2024.

About the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, powered by ExxonMobil is a festival of hot air balloons that takes place in October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It is the largest gathering of balloons and balloonists in the world. For details on events, schedule, entertainment and photographs visit our website www.balloonfiesta.com and follow us on Twitter @BalloonFiesta and Facebook.

About ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil, one of the largest publicly traded international energy and petrochemical companies, creates solutions that improve quality of life and meet society’s evolving needs.

The corporation’s primary businesses - Upstream, Product Solutions and Low Carbon Solutions – provide products that enable modern life, including energy, chemicals, lubricants, and lower emissions technologies. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading portfolio of resources, and is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants, and chemical companies in the world. ExxonMobil also owns and operates the largest CO₂ pipeline network in the United States. In 2021, ExxonMobil announced Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emission-reduction plans for 2030 for operated assets, compared to 2016 levels. The plans are to achieve a 20-30% reduction in corporate-wide greenhouse gas intensity; a 40-50% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity of upstream operations; a 70-80% reduction in corporate-wide methane intensity; and a 60-70% reduction in corporate-wide flaring intensity.

With advancements in technology and the support of clear and consistent government policies, ExxonMobil aims to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from its operated assets by 2050. To learn more, visit exxonmobil.com and ExxonMobil’s Advancing Climate Solutions.

Follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.



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For a complete list of Balloon Fiesta sponsors, click here.

Merchandise Update

In addition to the exciting announcement that ExxonMobil will become the event’s title sponsor starting in 2025, the 2025 Official ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Calendars are now on sale!

The calendar is a great way to keep track of time, with a specially curated collection of Balloon Fiesta photos that bring a bit of magic to your day. In addition to the monthly photos, a QR code is included for videos that will allow you to experience Balloon Fiesta, right from your home! 

Shop these and more at balloonfiestastuff.com or in person at our Gift Shop, located at 4401 Alameda Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM.

To be the first to know about new items, sales, and other Balloon Fiesta Stuff, make sure you are subscribed to What’s Up Wednesday. https://balloonfiestastuff.com/pages/wuw-subscribe

Balloon Fiesta Insider

The 2024 Music Fiesta tickets are now on sale! The superstar lineup includes Grammy, CMA and ACM award winner Carly Pearce headlining the festival on Saturday, October 12. Kyle Martin & Co. will open the event, followed by a performance from the musical duo LOCASH.

Ticket packages include:

• The Ultimate Music Fiesta Package
• ABQ “Dance” Box
• Various Reserved Seating
• Premier Lawn Area
• General Admission

To purchase tickets and for more information visit https://balloonfiesta.com/Music-Fiesta.

Featured Article: Exciting Changes Coming to Balloon Fiesta Live!



Regular viewers of Balloon Fiesta Live! will notice some exciting changes when the live stream hits the internet for its 8th consecutive year.

Executive Producer and co-host Art Lloyd Jr. will be joined by Ted Maes, who replaces Glen Moyer after 34 years of service as the announcer for Balloon Fiesta.

Ted Maes, a native of Albuquerque, has attended every Balloon Fiesta since the inaugural event in 1972 when he was an enthusiastic 3-year-old. He took his first balloon ride in 1976 and began crewing right after that. He earned his private pilot certificate in 2006, followed by a commercial pilot certificate in 2019. Maes has flown for Wells Fargo, Dos Equis, and XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. Notably, XTO was the first sponsor of Balloon Fiesta Live!, which is now powered by ExxonMobil. This partnership has led to ExxonMobil becoming the Presenting Sponsor of the entire Balloon Fiesta.

After 17 years of flying balloons at Balloon Fiesta, Ted joined the flight safety team in 2022. He is now excited to move from the field to the rooftop studio to provide insights to Balloon Fiesta Live! viewers. Maes says, “I feel I bring a wealth of knowledge to Balloon Fiesta Live!. Growing up with the event has provided me with many experiences, and I have made hundreds of friends from around the USA and the world. I truly enjoy sharing the joy of ballooning with everyone!”

Now residing in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, Ted is the National Sales Manager for It’s All About Satellites, an Albuquerque-based company. He loves spending time with his wife of 29 years, Valerie, and his two sons, Traxler (27, a Balloon Fiesta Baby! Born 10/8/1996) and Tyler (24).

Balloon Fiesta Live! is a live stream of all 14 sessions of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and will be available live on BalloonFiesta.com, as well as the Balloon Fiesta’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. In addition, all of the previous 7 years of shows are available via BalloonFiesta.com/live-stream.

Inside the Basket

Capturing the splendor of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is no small feat. Each year, our dedicated team of Official Balloon Fiesta Photographers embarks on the exhilarating challenge of immortalizing the vibrant colors, dynamic movements, and magical moments that define this iconic event.

In this edition of Inside the Basket, we hear from Triston Garcia, an Official Balloon Fiesta Photographer. Triston shares his journey, insights, and the unique experiences that come with photographing the world's premier ballooning events.

This Month in Ballooning

On August 27th, 1783, French inventor Jacques Charles launched the first gas balloon from the Champ de Mars, Paris. This balloon was unmanned, made from varnished silk, and filled with hydrogen gas.

Gas balloons are still flown today in the aviation community. Gas balloons can stay aloft for much longer than a hot-air balloon— while a typical hot-air balloon flight usually lasts about 1-2 hours, a gas balloon can stay in the air for days. The world record for the longest duration in a gas balloon flight was set in 1995 by pilots Wilhelm Eimers and Bernd Landsmann, after remaining in the sky for over 92 hours.

Photo-of-the-Month

We have received some beautiful pictures of the 51^st event, submitted through the Cindy Petrehn Memorial Photo Contest! Below is the Special Shapes Rodeo Category Third Place Winner, James Watley.

Do you have a Balloon Fiesta photo of which you’re proud? Share your favorite Balloon Fiesta image on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and tag our page for a chance to be featured in next month’s newsletter!

Read all about it

Check out the latest media coverage about Balloon Fiesta

• Albuquerque Journal Highlights Country charm: Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Carly Pearce to Headline 2024 Music Fiesta
• Albuquerque Journal Highlights Hot Air Art: 2024 Balloon Fiesta Poster Celebrates Balloon Glow, ABQ sunsets - and a hidden roadrunner
• Nerd Wallet Highlights Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in the 5 Top Vacations for Couples on a Budget
• Read about the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in "The Atmosphere Was Unlike Anything Else I've Experienced": People Are Sharing Unique Events Around the World Worth Traveling For